Large Oil Measure. Used to measure out oil in quarts which are marked on
the side of the can and also by the rings.

Just like every other item used by the lighthouse service
all brassware was stamped or had official plates affixed to them similar to
the one above. Once the Lighthouse Establishment was turned into the
Lighthouse Service then all items were marked or stamped USLHS.

Large Oil Measure.

Quart markings on the side of the large oil measure.

Brass oil cans were a
must for every lighthouse in the early days when whale oil and then kerosene
were used to light the flame so the light could be seen out to sea. Most
brass items were made by the lighthouse service but some were purchased from
outside vendors which the lighthouse depot would affix a small tag to
designate it as a lighthouse service item. All lighthouse service items were
marked or stamped to designate they were for the service and were property
of the government.

Pictured on this page is a variety of oil measure
pitchers. As oil was a precious commodity at the lighthouse its use was
carefully tracked by the station keeper who would then report his usage in
reports to the district. As oil had to be acquired and budgeted for the
government wanted to know how much was being used, compare it to other
stations for efficiency, etc. The government would question when things
seemed to be out of line.

Several oil measures were needed to keep track of what was poured into
each lamp or can and for that reason all of these measures exist. For instance a
couple of small oil measuring cups may have been used at a harbor station
while at a sea coast light several small and larger ones may have been used
to fill the household lanterns and the beacon lamp. We don't know what was
issued to each station as that would be determined when it began operation
and would be listed in a property return for each station.

Some black and white scans of other oil measuring devices will be
posted here in the future which will be scanned off a drawing that was
done on light keeper implements. This implement drawing is a good reference
source for the tools used by the light keepers.

This is a medium sized oil measure and is half the size of
the larger version pictured next to this one below.

Two styles of the medium size oil measure pictured above. Note the
differences in the handles. One has more of a grab handle than the other
one.

.

Lightkeepers 4 ounce Small Oil Measure. Several sizes existed and this is
one of the smallest.

This oil pitcher is a 3 quart version without the measuring lines in it.
Yet, another version of an oil can.